Obama's 2nd-term Cabinet takes shape

Environmental Protection Agency - vacant

Lisa Jackson, a chemical engineer and the first black administrator of the agency, announced last month she planned to leave. Jackson battled Republican lawmakers and industry groups who accused the agency of overreaching as it cracked down on carbon emissions and mercury pollution.

Possible replacements:

- Christine Gregoire - (See Energy section above)

- Bob Perciasepe - Jackson's deputy and the EPA's acting administrator has already been through the Senate confirmation process, which could be difficult for any new candidate because of Republican anger over EPA rules.

- Gina McCarthy - the assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is well-known on Capitol Hill, and once worked for 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney when he was Massachusetts governor.

- Mary Nichols - chairman of the California Air Resources Board, who is overseeing a state-run, cap-and-trade system for climate-changing greenhouse gases.

- Kathleen McGinty - former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Office of Management and Budget - vacant

The top job at the OMB has been vacant for a year since Jack Lew moved into the chief of staff role.

Candidates:

- Sylvia Mathews Burwell - runs the Wal-Mart Foundation, is considered a top contender for the job. Burwell worked in the Clinton administration and would bring gender diversity to the Cabinet and Obama's economic team.

- Jeff Zients - deputy budget director since 2009, could officially take the top job.

- Douglas Elmendorf - an economist who has been director of the Congressional Budget Office since 2009. Elmendorf has worked at the Federal Reserve, the Council of Economic Advisers and the Treasury Department.

United States Trade Representative - could soon be vacant

USTR Ronald Kirk has said he plans to leave. He could be offered another Cabinet-level post such as Commerce secretary, but there is speculation that he will opt for a private-sector job or seek state-wide office in his home state of Texas.

Possible replacements:

- US Export-Import Bank President Fred Hochberg

- Commerce Under Secretary for International Affairs Francisco Sanchez

- Demetrios Marantis - deputy US trade representative for Asia and Africa and former chief international trade counsel for Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus.

- Michael Punke - US ambassador to the World Trade Organization, who worked for Baucus from 1991 to 1992 as international trade counsel before joining the Clinton White House MORE